“Talia, don't you dare refuse my courtesy!” Albert shouted coldly.
“Training Area 12 is massive. Do you really think your Rock Guild can monopolize it alone?”
“Step back now while the news hasn't reached the other guilds yet. Otherwise, I’ll spread the word and see if you can withstand the pressure from several guilds at once!”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Talia’s mana fluctuated sharply, and the entire canteen was filled with surging power.
“Heh, why wouldn’t I? Besides, your brother is graduating in a year. Let’s see if he can still protect the Rock Guild then!” Albert sneered.
Hearing this, Zhang Ye began to understand the situation.
There were several power factions within the academy, similar to school clubs on Earth. He had learned this during his chats with the others.
The Rock Guild, which Talia belonged to, was likely one of these campus organizations.
The academy allocated various cultivation and training areas to these major groups for their own development.
It seemed a Spirit Spring had appeared within the Rock Guild’s territory. A Spirit Spring was a type of cultivation resource of immense value—valuable enough for Albert to offer three thousand high-grade magic crystals in exchange, and valuable enough for Talia to refuse.
This was the root of the dispute.
But what did any of that have to do with him?
He was here to find chicken, not trouble.
So, Zhang Ye walked directly toward the canteen window on the opposite side.
“I don’t need my brother! I can crush all of you by myself!” Talia roared.
Albert chuckled, his expression suddenly turning cold. “I’ll give you one last chance. Either hand over the training area for three thousand high-grade magic crystals, or let our people enter the Spirit Spring to cultivate. Otherwise…”
Ptui! Before he could finish, Talia spat right in Albert’s face.
“Scram! ‘Otherwise’ my foot! I’ll give you a chance: let’s fight. If you win, it’s yours. If you lose, get on your knees and crawl out of here!”
“You!” Albert was so angry that fire practically sprouted from his hair.
However, he was incredibly wary.
In terms of cultivation, they were both at the Tier Ten mid stage. But in terms of actual combat power, three Alberts wouldn’t be a match for one Talia.
This woman was a beast. Her strength was comparable to the Giant race. Although her cultivation was only at the Tier Ten mid stage, her physical body had already reached the Saint-tier level. She could crush him with raw strength alone; it was no joke.
They had fought once before, and Albert had been hammered so deep into the ground he almost couldn't be pulled out. He was still traumatized.
But with Talia issuing a public challenge in front of so many people, his reputation would be ruined if he didn't accept. His influence within the Fire Snake Guild would likely plummet.
He gritted his teeth and said, “You’re a President fighting me, a Vice President. Where’s the fun in that?”
Talia laughed heartily. “Oh, it’s plenty of fun! I’d love nothing more than to use my fists to bury that ugly face of yours into the dirt right now!”
Ugly?!
Albert’s temper flared. “Fine! You want to fight? My Fire Snake Guild will field ten people, and your side will field ten. We’ll go one by one until all ten on one side have lost. Do you dare?”
At this point, Albert suddenly began to sneer. “Oh, wait. Am I being a bit of a bully? I doubt your Rock Guild even has ten people who can actually fight.”
Hearing this, Talia’s eyes blazed with fury, his provocation successful. “Who says the Rock Guild has no one? We’ll fight! Do you think I’m afraid of you?”
“I’ll sweep all ten of you by myself!”
“Hehehe, don’t hurt your back talking so big,” Albert shrugged and sneered.
“Whether it’s big talk or not, we’ll find out in the arena. I just hope you don’t end up crying like a baby after I crush you again!” Talia retorted with a cold, angry laugh.
Albert’s face instantly turned unsightly because he really had been beaten to tears by Talia once before.
It was the shame of his life. Now that Talia had brought it up again, he was beyond furious. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his mana fluctuating wildly.
Talia stood up as well, staring him down without a hint of fear. Standing at over 190 centimeters tall, her presence actually loomed over Albert’s.
Seeing their leaders facing off, both groups of students stood up simultaneously, releasing their mana. The two opposing forces clashed in the air, creating a fierce wind within the room.
Just as the tension reached a breaking point, a person walked right through the central corridor between them.
Both sides were stunned.
Where did this kid come from?
Hadn’t the third floor been cleared?
However, both sides could tell the boy didn't belong to the opposing faction because of his freshman uniform.
Talia didn't react, but Albert’s rage only intensified.
Angry as he was, he didn't actually dare to do anything to Talia since he couldn't beat her.
But this Tier Eight Newly Advanced kid dared to stroll right past him as if he were invisible? Did he have no respect?
Just as Zhang Ye was about to pass, Albert suddenly reached out and blocked his path.
Zhang Ye looked at Albert. “Is there a problem?”
Albert was so angry he laughed. “What, didn't you know the third floor was cleared?”
Zhang Ye looked at him and asked, “Was it cleared by you personally, or by the academy?”
“If the academy cleared it, I have no complaints. But if you cleared it yourself, then it has nothing to do with me.”
“If I interrupted your conversation, I’m sorry. I apologize.”
“Now, please move aside. I need to get through.”
The crowd watched Zhang Ye in a daze.
Wait, does this kid have no situational awareness?
Can’t you see we’re about to start a brawl here?
Seeing a freshman dare to speak to him like this, Albert grew even more enraged. “You’re quite arrogant, aren’t you?”
Zhang Ye frowned. “I’m walking my path, and you’re talking yours. We stay out of each other's way.”
“I’ll say it one more time: please move.”
Albert glared at Zhang Ye viciously, looking as if he wanted to devour him whole.
It wasn't that Zhang Ye was insisting on pushing through the middle.
It was just that both groups had moved their chairs and blocked the other two aisles, leaving only this central corridor open.
He couldn't exactly climb over their heads, could he?
That would draw even more hostility.
At that moment, Talia sneered, “What’s the matter, Albert? You don’t dare to mess with me, so you’re taking your anger out on a freshman?”
“That’s really something, Albert! Hahaha!”
“Hahaha!” The group behind Talia immediately burst into laughter.
Losing face from the mockery, Albert’s gaze toward Zhang Ye became even more murderous.
Nevertheless, he stepped aside to let Zhang Ye pass.
Zhang Ye nodded. “Thank you.”
However, he said this while looking at Talia.
“You’re not bad, kid. Want to join my Rock Guild?” Talia asked with a hearty laugh.
Seeing Zhang Ye talk back to Albert and make him look foolish made her take a liking to him.
Before Zhang Ye could answer, Albert sneered, “Has the Rock Guild really stooped so low that it has to recruit a little piece of trash?”
Zhang Ye’s brow furrowed instantly.
Piece of trash?
Who are you calling a piece of trash?
Zhang Ye turned to look at Albert and said seriously, “Apologize. To me.”
“What?” Albert looked as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world and burst into laughter. “You’re telling me to apologize to you?”
“Do you even know who I am?”
Zhang Ye countered with a smile, “Then do you know who I am?”
Everyone was taken aback. They suddenly realized: how did a freshman have the permission to reach the third floor without being stopped by the staircase’s detection magic circle?
That meant he had at least Three-star permission.
A freshman with Three-star permission usually had a significant background.
“Who are you?” Albert asked.
“You don’t even know who I am, yet you dare to call people trash? Who gave you the courage?” Zhang Ye said. “It’s lucky you ran into me. If you’d run into someone else, they might have killed you!”
“But I won’t do that, because I’m just a nobody. So, there’s no need to be so nervous.”
“Heh.”
Seeing the mocking glint in Zhang Ye’s eyes, Albert realized he had been played.
“You’re looking for death?!” Albert roared.
Talia laughed loudly and looked at Albert. “I’m protecting this freshman. Try touching him and see what happens!”
However, Zhang Ye gestured for Talia to calm down and looked at Albert. At the same time, his academy badge glowed, and lines of text appeared—it was the Academy Rules.
“Here, Senior, read this with me: ‘Lower-year students may challenge upper-year students, but upper-year students are forbidden from challenging lower-year students. Furthermore, they must not coerce, threaten, or oppress lower-year students. Upon discovery, violators will receive a demerit and be stripped of a month's worth of cultivation resources. In severe cases, they will be expelled from the academy!’”
Zhang Ye smiled slightly. “In other words…”
“Why don’t you try touching me and see what happens?”
...
...
Rate on N.U.
